ELIANA The next word I heard sealed my fate. “Herold, here is your new mate,” my father said. The sentence was hanging in the air like a challenge. It wasn't a revelation; I had suspected it all along. This man hated me, and now it seemed he was determined to ruin my life forever."But, Father..." I trailed off, my words lost on him. He didn't even flinch; he just pinned me with a gaze that was both unyielding and absolute. The finality in his eyes was unmistakable - there would be no argument, no negotiation, no escape. It was clear: his decision was made, and I was bound to it.I summoned a courage I hadn't felt in ages and blurted out: "Beta Harold, I...he's not my mate." I wouldn't normally speak to my father that way but desperation had taken over. I was grasping at anything, no matter how reckless, to alter the course of events that seemed inevitable.Beta Harold's face contorted into a deep frown. "Young lady, you should be grateful I'm willing to make you my chosen mate, nobo
ELIANA "I made dinner, let's go eat," Victoria announced, her piercing gaze settled on me, her eyes flashing with malice. I braced myself for the inevitable insult, and it came with biting precision: "This meal is for the fertile, but I suppose the barren can join us too." Vivian's annoying giggle echoed through the room, and I felt a sting from Victoria's venomous words.The sting I felt wasn't from Victoria's insult - I knew the truth about myself - but from the painful realization that the only family I had derived so much joy in seeing me hurt. Vivian's giggles and Victoria's venomous words hung in the air, a harsh reminder of the toxic dynamics that had become all too familiar.My father's words cut deep, a familiar sting that never seemed to lose its potency. “I wouldn't normally let you eat at the same table as me and my family,” he said, each word a reminder of my perpetual outsider status. I gulped dry air, the pain of years of maltreatment and rejection still fresh, still r
ELIANA Vivian's voice dripped with malice as she said, "Congratulations on finding a new mate." Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and I knew she was mocking me. I chose to ignore the jab, my silence a deliberate refusal to rise to her bait. Beta Harold's gaze narrowed, his eyes fixed on Victoria as she served him. "Is she barren?" he asked gruffly, his voice like a slap. "That wouldn't be good because I would want her to bear me children,” he added. The savory aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, but I felt a chill run down my spine as I waited for Victoria's response. My heart sank, heavy with the weight of Beta Harold's words. Bear him children? The thought was suffocating. I felt a desperate longing to escape, to flee back to the infuriating yet captivating Axel. His chiseled features and piercing gaze flashed in my mind, a tantalizing reminder. Victoria's eyes darted nervously between me and my father, her discomfort palpable. But before the silence could
AXELI had blown the plan. I wasn't supposed to mention Laura's name. It was a critical mistake, one I couldn't afford to make. She couldn't know my true identity, not now, not ever.The most agonizing part was that her memory still haunted me. The scent of her smooth cologne lingered, refusing to fade away.‘Oh, Moon Goddess, please, take this torment from me.’ No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the thought of her from my mind. It was as if I couldn't escape the memories that haunted me.Her slender legs and silky skin were etched in my mind, refusing to be forgotten. But I knew I had to try and shake off the image - it wasn't the right time, and seeing her again wasn't a necessity… not now. Yet, my emotions seemed to have a mind of their own, and they were getting the better of me.‘I need you in my study,’ I mind linked my beta, Tom.His response was instantaneous: ‘On my way, Alpha.’Within minutes, Tom appeared in my study. I couldn't help but appreciate his efficiency;
ELIANA I stood there, the sound of my ragged breathing filled my ears, a harsh reminder of the suffocating discomfort that gripped me. My life, my situation, everything seemed to be closing in on me. He came closer - a man old enough to be my father, shamelessly trying to make out with a girl young enough to be his daughter. The garden, once a beautiful sight, now seemed to be mocking me with its beauty.My throat was dry, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I bit back the emotion, refusing to let it consume me. But the harder I tried the more vulnerable I felt.He leaned in, his nose grazing my skin as he sniffed along my shoulder. “You know, your skin is like buttermilk,” he said, a foolish grin spreading across his face. The words were meant as a compliment, but they only deepened the crease of disgust on my face.“You should be grateful I'm here with you," he sneered, his hand sliding up my arm as his gaze locked onto mine. "Nobody else wants you and I don't think anybod
ELIANA As I spun around, my eyes met his, and my heart stumbled. It was a face I'd tried to forget yet somehow couldn't shake from my memory: AXEL.He looked breathtaking as always; his presence sent a shiver down my spine. "Calm down, Miss," he said, his voice low and smooth, flashing his hazel eyes at me with a hint of mischief on his emotionless face.I retracted, stopping myself from shifting, but it was too late. The force of the motion had torn the fabric of my shirt, leaving a gaping hole that exposed more than half of my left boobs. Axel's gaze flickered downward, his eyes lingering on the torn fabric; there was a slight shift in his emotionless face, a flicker of something that vanished before I could grasp it. This man was a fortress, his thoughts locked away behind walls of steel. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, and that secrecy only made him more intriguing."You didn't have to startle me like that," I said, wincing as I felt the crease on my forehead deep
AXEL She was proving stubborn, refusing to open up to me. Just like her father, secretive and tight-lipped. But that wasn't an issue, not for someone like me. A simple mind link would reveal what was bothering her. I was certain she hadn't sought out this spot just to breathe in some fresh air. I was sure she was just making up stories; it was so obvious she was terrible at lying for her not to want to spill it. It might be something that will facilitate my work here so I can return to the pressing issues.My people needed me.Something was off about her; I could sense it, feel it. Her unease was palpable, and yet, I couldn't help but notice the small smile that played on my lips within a few minutes I spent with her. It was a rare sight, one that I reserved for a few occasions. My father's words echoed in my mind: "We enjoy the prey a little before making them suffer.”I couldn't concentrate fully on my gaze, staring at secret glances at her naked chest. I desperately wanted to tear
ELIANA My heart was still racing; I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in the pit of my stomach. My father's face flashed before my eyes, his cold, calculating gaze making my skin crawl. I knew him, knew the depths of his cruelty and the lengths he'd go to get what he wanted. And what he wanted was me back under his control. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I wondered with a sense of inevitability when he'd finally come for me.I couldn't blame myself for lying to Axel. It wasn't something I'd planned on doing, but how could I have told him the truth? That my own father had sent those men to capture me? The weight of that betrayal was still too much to bear. So, I'd spun a web of deceit, hoping to protect Axel from the darkness that had haunted me for so long. But now, as I stood before him, I wondered how long it would take for him to find out that I was full of deceit.I swallowed hard as Axel moved closer, his husky voice sending a shock down my spine
ELIANAAxel reappeared in an instant, his eyes scanning the room as he took in the scene. "What's wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.I was still gasping for breath, my chest heaving up and down. Axel's gaze locked onto mine, and he sat down beside me on the bed, his movements fluid and gentle. He shifted closer, his presence a comforting warmth that enveloped me.Axel's hand gently lifted my chin, guiding my gaze to meet his. I was certain he could see the fear lingering in my eyes, but he searched for something more. "What happened?" he asked again, his tone laced with concern, yet edged with a hint of frustration that I wasn't opening up to him. His eyes seemed to bore into mine."I... I had a nightmare," I admitted, feeling an overwhelming urge to rest my head on Axel's chest, but hesitating, unsure if it was too intimate.Axel's brow arched in curiosity. "A nightmare, huh? What happened in the nightmare, exactly?" he pressed, his eyes locked onto mine.Just as I was
ELIANAI sprinted for my life, desperate to escape the two enormous wolves hot on my heels. With every passing second, they closed in, their panting growing louder. My heart racing, I pushed my legs to their limit, but they felt like lead, threatening to buckle beneath me. Refusing to give in, I summoned every last ounce of strength and kept running.Although the larger wolf was closing in on me, I found myself fixated on the smaller one. Despite the bigger wolf's proximity, I felt a greater sense of fear towards the smaller one.Just as the larger wolf was about to pounce, I braced myself for impact. But instead of attacking me, it gently swept me up in its thick, luxurious blue fur. The unexpected tenderness brought instant relief, soothing the temporary pain and leaving me stunned.We thought we'd escaped, the large blue-furred wolf and I fleeing together from the relentless pursuit of the smaller wolf. But soon, the smaller wolf caught up, and to my shock, the tables turned. The l
AXEL I needed her to feel at ease around me, to trust me implicitly, and to obey my every command without hesitation. That's what I craved. She smiled back at me, revealing her flawless teeth, and for a moment, I felt a spark of excitement; this wasn't just going to be another revenge; it would be an exciting journey.I couldn't help but wonder why that asshole had left her. The new Luna, the woman I'd seen earlier, was a far cry from the genuine article. All she seemed to care about was power, and it was painfully obvious. The fool probably thought she loved him, but I wasn't buying it.It was laughably obvious, and yet he claimed to be an alpha? It was a joke. He couldn't even detect the most basic of manipulations, and that was a pathetic display of leadership. What a shame.Perhaps fate had other plans; events had fallen in order to bring her into my life at the perfect moment. It was as if fate itself had conspired to deliver her into my hands, and I couldn't help but feel a sen
ELIANAAxel's beta emerged from the corner, bowing slightly as he took in our surroundings. "Any issues?" Axel asked.His stern face was back, his expression unreadable. "No," his beta replied, his voice low. “But there is some information I want to pass”“Okay, go on.”The beta leaned in closer to Axel, presumably to whisper the details in his ear. But Axel's gaze never left mine. Instead, he commanded, "Spill."His voice was firm and authoritative, filling the space around us. It was as if he didn't care if I heard the conversation or not.My heart sank. Was it my father? Had they finally caught up with me? But before I could worry more, the news was released: "The Alpha of the Nightshade Pack is making his new mate Luna."My heart dropped like a stone. Axel's gaze locked onto mine, searching for my reaction. I tried to appear strong, to mask my emotions, but a sharp pain pierced my chest, threatening to expose my true feelings."The Luna ceremony will be held in the next full moon,
***33 YEARS AGOThe sky was a deep, foreboding grey, like a physical manifestation of the unease that settled over the land. Just minutes ago, the sun had been out and clear on the Nightshade Pack's territory, warming the earth beneath their feet. But now, the air was electric with anticipation, the thunder booming and crackling through the air.It was a storm like no other, one that seemed to draw the very breath from the atmosphere. The pack's elders would later tell stories of a similar storm, one that had ravaged their lands centuries ago when the ruthless Lycan King Azrael had met his end.But this storm felt different. The thunder seemed to vibrate through every molecule of air, the lightning illuminating the dark clouds in eerie, pulsing flashes. The storm's intensity was palpable, and it seemed to be building towards something - a reckoning, a revelation, or a transformation that would change the Nightshade Pack's world forever.Sophia's faint shout echoed through the empty r
AxelI slammed the plates into the kitchen cabinets, the clatter echoing through the room as I struggled to contain the anger boiling inside me. My hands trembled with rage, my fingers clenched into fists as I fought to maintain a fragile grip on my temper.Everything was going well. I hope Anastasia doesn't ruin it for me. If she does, I would thirst for the last of her blood.I gritted my teeth, my anger simmering just below the surface. I had thought my beta had everything under control, but now I wasn't so sure. One of them had escaped, and I had a sinking feeling that they might have made contact with her.I was certain it was Anastasia.She had chosen to keep secrets from me, to lie about the issues brewing within my own walls. The audacity was staggering. Once she left, I would confirm whether any of them had been involved, and if so, there would be consequences.Eliana's actions only made my suspicions stronger. Her deception and dishonesty were proof that I needed to take dra
ELIANAAxel emerged from the corner, his eyes scanning the hallway with an unnerving intensity. His gaze followed the path the stranger had taken, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition - in his eyes.Axel's gaze shifted back to me, his eyes narrowing slightly as he asked, "Was anyone here?"I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. My eyes darted around to the empty hallway as if searching for an answer. The stranger's sudden departure had left an uncomfortable silence, and I felt caught in the middle, unsure of what to reveal or conceal.I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. Axel's intense stare made me feel like I was withholding a secret, even though I wasn't entirely sure what was going on."Ummm, no," I stammered, the words tumbling out before I could reconsider. I wasn't sure if I had just made a terrible mistake by lying, but it was the best I could come up with on short notice.My mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions and
ELIANA"Then why are you here?" she asked, her eyes darting backward every few seconds, as if she feared being ambushed. There was something undeniably odd about her, and I found myself growing increasingly uneasy.Her question caught me off guard, and I felt a spark of defensiveness ignite within me. Did I need permission to be at Axel's? "I'm here with Axel," I said, arching my brow in query. "Is there a problem?"The moment Axel's name left my lips, the stranger's expression transformed. Fear flashed across her face, her eyes widening in alarm. Even I, not exactly skilled at reading expressions, couldn't miss the terror etched on her features.She glanced over her shoulder again, her fear intensifying. Her gaze darted around the room, as if she expected Axel to materialize at any moment. The air seemed to thicken with tension, and I sensed a dark undercurrent lurking beneath the surface."He's not interested in you," she whispered intensely, her eyes locked on mine with a desperat
ELIANAI forced down the food Axel had served me, my expression a strained smile that hid the turmoil brewing inside. My senses were numb, and the flavors on my plate might as well have been cardboard. I ate slowly, my eyes scanning the room with anxiety and distraction.Minutes ticked by, and Axel still hadn't returned. His sudden departure after the weird conversation had left me bewildered. I fidgeted in my chair, my unease growing with each passing second. What was taking him so long?Alessia's absence only added to my growing unease. I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for her return. Her presence had become a comforting constant, and without her, the room felt emptier and darker. I sent a silent plea to the moon goddess, my heart aching: ‘Please, bring her back to me.’As the minutes dragged on, Axel's prolonged absence began to gnaw at me. I was done with my food, and the silence was starting to feel oppressive. My mind wandered to the possibility of going after him, but